NYC Health

NYC Health is a service of the NYC Health Department. We are here to talk to New Yorkers about health topics, events and services offered through our programs.

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Current COVID-19 Alert Level in NYC: High

UPDATE: The COVID-19 Alert Level in NYC is now 🟧high. There is high community spread of COVID-19 and pressure on the health care system is increasing. At this time, follow these prevention tips: ✅Consider avoiding higher-risk activities (such as crowded indoor get-togethers). ✅Wear a face mask in ALL public indoor settings and crowded outdoor spaces. ✅Limit get-togethers to small numbers of people. ✅Stay up to date: get vaccinated and boosted. ✅Get tested if you have symptoms, were exposed, traveled, or were at a large event. ✅Stay home if sick or recently exposed.

Learn more about NYC’s current COVID Alert Level and what precautions to take.

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How to Perform a COVID-19 Rapid Test at Home

Follow these tips when using a rapid COVID-19 test at home: ✅Read the test maker's instructions and watch any step-by-step videos before you start. ✅Wash your hands before and after testing. ✅Check your test result within the amount of time written in the test kit instructions. A result read before or after may be incorrect. ✅Do not use expired tests or test components that are damaged or discolored. ✅Do not reuse test kits or components. If you test negative on a home test, but have symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and isolate. Get a PCR test to confirm your result, or take a second rapid home test 24 hours later. If your second test is negative, you can end isolation if you have not had a fever for the last 24 hours without taking medicine.

Learn how to get your free at-home COVID-19 test.

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What To Do if You Test Positive for COVID-19

Verified

If you recently tested positive for COVID-19, stay home for five days from the day your symptoms began. If you do not have symptoms, you should stay home for five days from the date of your positive test.

After five days, you can leave home if:

✅ You do not have symptoms

✅ OR your symptoms are improving and you have not had a fever in the last 24 hours.

😷 After isolation, wear a well-fitting mask around others for five more days.

If you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, this chart can help you determine if you need to quarantine.

A close contact is anyone who has been within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes over a 24-hour period.

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Coping With Traumatic Events

After experiencing a traumatic event, like the subway attack in Brooklyn, stress may affect how you feel, think and act. Here are some tips to help you cope. If you feel overwhelmed, NYC Well can help: 💜 Talk: 888-NYC-Well 💜 Text “WELL” to 65173 💜 Chat: nyc.gov/nycwell

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What You Should Know About Fentanyl

Do you know about fentanyl? Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that has been found in heroin, cocaine, crack, methamphetamine, ketamine and pills from nonmedical sources. Anyone who uses drugs that may contain fentanyl, even occasionally, may be at risk of overdose.

The presence of fentanyl in the New York City drug supply has dramatically increased the number of overdose deaths, and fentanyl is now the most common drug involved in overdose deaths. In 2020, 1,580 New Yorkers died from a fentanyl-involved overdose.

To prevent an overdose:

💜Avoid using alone and take turns.

💜Start with a small dose and go slowly.

💜Keep naloxone ready and on hand. Call 311 to find out where to get naloxone at no cost.

💜Avoid mixing drugs.

💜Test your drugs using fentanyl test strips

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Travel Tips During COVID-19

Traveling this holiday season? Travel may involve crowds and going to places with high levels of COVID-19. If you are not fully vaccinated, avoid travel. If you must travel, use these tips:

😷 Wear a face mask. Masks are still required on planes, trains, and other transportation, and at airports and stations, even if you are vaccinated.

✈️ Play by the rules. Check and follow State, local and country COVID-19 guidance. If you leave the U.S., you will need to get tested before your fight home.

🛌 Stay at a hotel. If you are visiting friends or family out-of-town, consider staying at a hotel if you or others are not fully vaccinated. If you have out-of-town visitors, suggest they do the same.

🤧 Follow travel guidance. This includes getting tested before and after travel, and quarantining as needed after your return. Everyone should monitor for COVID-19 symptoms after travel.

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How To Mix and Match COVID-19 Booster Shots

Ready for your COVID19 booster shot? Your booster can be any of the three authorized or approved vaccines. If you received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, the science most strongly supports getting a third dose of the same vaccine type. If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, all three vaccines are fine as a booster. Limited data shows that a Moderna or Pfizer booster shot could result in higher antibody levels than a Johnson & Johnson booster shoot. If you’re not sure which one you should get, speak with your doctor or clinical staff at a vaccine site. Learn more about booster shots, including how to find one near you.

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The Omicron Variant of COVID-19

We are still learning about the omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19, but here is a breakdown of what we currently know:

🤧 There are no confirmed cases in NYC of the omicron variant, but we may start seeing such cases in the city soon. Delta remains the dominant strain – about 98% of sequenced specimens.

📈 While a lot is still unknown about omicron, early evidence suggests that those who’ve had COVID-19 in the past may be more easily reinfected with omicron.

😷 We strongly recommend everyone — including people who are vaccinated or were previously infected — wear masks in ALL public indoor settings.

💉 Vaccination, masking and testing remain our most important tools in fighting this new potential variant of concern. Vaccines are available for anyone 5 and older, and we recommend boosters for any adult who is fully vaccinated.

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How To Talk to Friends and Family About COVID-19 Vaccines

As we get together with friends and family this holiday season, it's likely your loved ones will have questions about the COVID19 vaccines. Use these tips to listen respectfully, share your story and give people space to make decisions:

✅ Respect each person's right to decide whether to get vaccinated.

✅ Avoid arguments, expressing judgment or telling people they should get vaccinated.

✅ Pause to give people space to share their concerns.

✅ Discuss both the science and their personal concerns.

✅ Invite people to talk again if they are not ready to get vaccinated.

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The Difference Between Health Disparities and Health Inequities

What's the difference between health disparities and health inequities? Health disparities are population-based differences in health outcomes. A disparity reflects the difference between groups, not an outcome that is only experienced by one group. Health inequities are differences in health outcomes and the opportunities groups have to achieve optimal health. These differences are rooted in avoidable and unfair social and structural injustices. Consider this example from the Boston Public Health Commission: “Male babies are generally born at a heavier birth weight than female babies. This is a health disparity. We expect to see this difference in birth weight because it is rooted in genetics. Because this difference is unavoidable, it is considered a health disparity.” On the other hand, studies have shown links between the stress from racism experienced by Black women and negative health outcomes. “Babies born to Black women are more likely to die in their first year of life than babies born to White women.” Because this is true regardless of income or level of education, it is considered an inequity. Racial discrimination in health care and the stress of racism negatively affect health.

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The Truth About COVID-19 Vaccines

TRUE: Scientists were able to develop the COVID-19 vaccines quickly because of resources and collaboration. Due to a global collective effort, millions of lives have been saved. The COVID-19 vaccines followed the same development steps as other vaccines: They were developed and tested in a laboratory and then went through clinical trials closely monitored by the FDA. Clinical trials involve testing the vaccine in people to see if it is safe and effective. The COVID-19 vaccines were each tested on tens of thousands of people of different genders, ages, races and ethnicities who volunteered to be part of the clinical trials.

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Support for Alcohol Use

It is OK to seek support for alcohol use. Being mindful of your relationship with alcohol can help you decide the safest way to drink. If you think drinking alcohol is negatively affecting your life, talk to someone you trust, such as a close friend, family member, mental health professional or medical provider.

For additional support, reach out to NYC Well. NYC Well staff are available 24/7 and can provide brief counseling and referrals to care in over 200 languages. For support: 💜 Call 888-NYC-WELL (888-692- 9355) 💜 Text "WELL" to 65173 💜 Chat online at nyc.gov/nycwell

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Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19

TRUE: Vaccines are a critical tool in protecting you and your community from severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization and death. They are proven safe and are now protecting millions of vaccinated New Yorkers from COVID-19. Vaccination is safer than risking illness and long-term side effects from COVID-19. Even people who have had COVID-19 in the past should still get vaccinated.

Visit vaccinefinder.nyc.gov to find a vaccination site near you.

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Defining Epidemiology and Surveillance

Epidemiology allows us to better understand the conditions that lead to sickness and to health so we can better solve public health problems. To do this, we use surveillance, or the collecting or gathering of information. In public health, this means we’re monitoring data to help inform our work to protect the health of a population. At the Health Department, for example, we monitor health behaviors, social determinants of health, as well as instances of disease. This includes data related to: 🔸Physical activity 🔸Chronic diseases 🔸Flu-like illness 🔸Lead exposure 🔸New diagnoses of HIV 🔸The number of heat-related deaths 🔸Housing conditions 🔸And much more!

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COVID-19 Vaccines Are Now Available for Kids 5 and Up

Children ages 5 to 11 are now eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine! 🎉 Vaccination is the best way to protect your child from COVID-19. With more contagious variants of the virus, more young people are getting COVID-19 and being hospitalized. Remember: Vaccines are safe, effective and free! You do not need to have health insurance or share your immigration status to get vaccinated. Visit vaccinefinder.nyc.gov to find a vaccination site near you!

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COVID-19 Death Rate by Vaccination Status

Our latest data show unvaccinated New Yorkers have a risk of death from COVID19 that is 8 times that of vaccinated people.

Protect yourself from hospitalization, long-term health problems and death: Get vaccinated today!

To view all of our COVID-19 data, including vaccine data, visit on.nyc.gov/covid19data.

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Defining Health Equity

Health equity means making sure there are conditions for optimal health and well-being for all people. Equity recognizes that people need different things to lead full, healthy lives. Health equity is achieved when no one is kept from reaching their highest level of health because of social position, social identities or where they live. A person’s health (or overall quality of life) should NOT depend on: 🔹Income level 🔹Race 🔹Gender 🔹Ethnicity 🔹Religion 🔹Sexual orientation 🔹Geography